Super Eagles confirm return for friendly tournament in Turkey

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will participate in the upcoming four-nation friendly tournament after organisers moved the event to Turkey, resolving earlier security concerns.

Nigeria had initially withdrawn from the competition, which was set to take place in the Middle East, citing safety risks linked to ongoing regional tensions.

The team was scheduled to face Costa Rica, Jordan, and Iran as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Venue switch resolves safety concerns

According to Afrik-Foot, a senior official of the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that improved security guarantees following the relocation influenced the decision to return.

“There has been a lot of speculation as to if the tournament will hold or not and from our end, since the crisis in the Middle East started, we elected not to participate,” the official said.

“However, there has been a change of venue, which is okay with us. The tournament will now be held in Turkey which is quite safe for the players. We have the assurances of the organisers, and we have started communicating with the players too.”

Opportunity to rebuild after AFCON

The development marks a quick reversal, with Nigeria now set to use the fixtures as part of its rebuilding process following its recent campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“It will be a good time to see our boys again in action since the AFCON, but yes, I can confirm to you that we will now play in Turkey and every other arrangement remains the same except the venue,” the official added.

Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to name his squad in the coming days, with the tournament offering a platform to assess new players alongside established names.

“Very soon, the coach will release a list of players for the tournament, as we hope to also see some new boys brought into the team,” the official said.

Nigeria, bronze medallists at the 2025 AFCON, will look to use the tournament to fine-tune preparations ahead of their next competitive fixtures.